1 John 3:3 --- And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
It's been a long and tiring week but because of God it's been a good one. I appreciate all the prayers for Amanda's back and for myself. She's still hurting a lot so continued prayers are appreciated.
This morning the Lord and I went into 1 John 3:3 and it closes out the opening portion of chapter 3 here. I read a summary that says, verse 1 He tells us what we are. God's children. In verse 2 He tells what we will be. Like Him. Now in verse 3 He tells us what we should be. Pure.
Pure in the Greek is the word hagnos meaning: pure, pure from carnality, chaste, modest, pure from every fault, immaculate.
Pure in the Merriam-Webster dictionary: free from what vitiates (impairs/debases), weakens, or pollutes. Containing nothing that does not properly belong. Free from moral fault or guilt. Marked by chastity (refraining from extramarital sex).
There's a whole lot hidden away in that tiny four-letter word. As I read the definitions my mind kept going to Romans 12:2 and a few other places.
Romans 12:2 (AMP) --- And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [a]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
James 4:7-8 --- So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
Philippians 4:8 --- And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Knowing what has been done for us, knowing what kind of perfect, finished, unfathomable love that was bestowed upon us, knowing we are called and ARE children of God, knowing Jesus is coming back and we will be like Him when He does, should light a fire inside of us to want to purify ourselves, to be more like Him now, to desire to live our lives purely, righteously, properly, lovingly!!
If you don’t have that fire, you've got to really stop and ask why… you've got to find out why that desire and fire isn't there!! I'll be blunt about it, and I do so because I'm coming from a place where I didn't have this fire blazing inside of me, so I really truly get it.
Are you too busy?
Are you too distracted?
Do you actually get into the Bible to meet Him and Hear Him and Follow Him and Learn of Him?
Do you pray and really talk to Him and not just say grace over meals?
Do you sit at His feet and just be with Him every day or is it 3 min bible app, check the box and go?
Are you so busy doing good things in His name that you don't have time for Him?
Do you avoid Him because you don't feel worthy?
Do you shy away because you feel guilty?
Do you stop short because you really don't want to give up the things of the world your comfortable with?
Are you afraid of what changes will happen if you do lay it all down before Him?
Whatever it is you've got to be deathly serious about figuring it out. This is not a mystery that you can just shrug your shoulders at and move on. Scooby and the gang aren't showing up to find old man Jenkins for you. God's word is not simply good moral teachings on love, it is His heart poured out to us and His commands and direction to his Children!
For years I didn't know why I couldn't get that fire going inside and you know what??? I didn't get an answer until I sat down one morning and told God, "I just want to be with You today God. I want to get to know You. I want to hear Your voice. I want to have a passion for You and the things You love. I don't know how to do that, but I'm going to show up every day and pray this prayer and then I'm going to open Your word and I am going to seek to hear Your voice in it as I read……
My answer came when I kept showing up every day with the same prayer. Now, this isn't legalistic. Not saying it's a ritual or some magic in the schedule of it. NO, it was me coming to Him, every single day, just broken and not knowing how to ignite a passion and desire in my heart and just asking for it because I was out of options and strength trying to light the fire myself.
Somewhere along the line I realized that fire, that passion, that desire started the first day I sat down and cried and begged to be with Him, to hear His voice, to have a passion inside for Him and His Word and all things of Him… He didn't show that to me until further down the road, but it began the day I CHOSE to go to Him.
What do you choose today? Because you've got options.
Now, I'm writing all of this from a Christian, child of God, follower of Christ Jesus perspective and I write it to the church, other brothers/sisters in Christ Jesus. I'm not talking about those who don't know Him.
I close with something I read in Wiersbe's commentary on this verse.
…And since we have experienced the love of the Father, we (should) have no desire to live in sin. An unbeliever who sins is a creature sinning against his Creator. A Christian who sins is a child sinning against his Father. The unbeliever sins against law; the believer sins against love.
The believer sins against love. Think about that today when you make your choices on where you focus, what you give your energy and time to and who you prioritize.
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